New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-25
THE NATIONAL PUZZLE.

1t would be a mistake to suppose, because
the character of the Commissioners appointed
indicates the general Interpretation likely to
be given to the Interstate law. that the diff
culties attending its enforcement are out Of the
way The practical question is one of detail
Granting that rates should be in measure
proportional to distance, for example, how far
shall this rule govern in each case An IL
lustration of this difficulty appeared at the
meeting of Southern railway managers. They
had before them three distinct schedules pre-
pared for consideration one according with
General Fink's Interpretation of the Interstate
act one conforming to Mr.. Rcagan's under
standing Of the act, and one framed as COM
promise between the two, Yet the managers
upon consideration were not able to agree upon
either. and fourth plan was devised in the
hope of meeting the complicated difficulties
presented.
It is not enough to know that the law con-
templates and the Commissioners will seek a
regulation Of traffic as nearly proportional to
distance as practicable. The question what is
practicable, what justice requires in respect to
each class of traffic, is one which can with
difficulty be settled, either by the railroads or
by the Commissioners. A third party will in
terfere Every shipper who conceives that
his interests are affected will have power to 60
into the nearest court and ask redress for sup
posed injuries. The decisions of the court
may DO governed by an Interpretation oil the
law entirely different from that of the railroads,
or from that Of the Commission. That this Is
not unlikely one must realize who considers
that many of the ablest lawyers in the country
have for some weeks been trying to understand
this measure and scarcely any two OF them
have agreed even with respect to its principles.
The attempt to apply undiscovered principles
to innumerable variations of circumstance and
condition is going TO be one Of no small
difficulty.
1t is already clear that in some particulars
the law will bring about important and dcsir-
able changes. 10 the railroads, as to the pub
lie, it will be no small gain that the great num-
Der of passes hitherto issued, TO persons in all
sorts of official positions, will be curtailed. An
official of the Pennsylvania Railway states that
the traffic between New-Yorll and Washington,
on deadhead passes issued to officials and en-
ployes of the Government, ordinarily fills one
car on each limited express train. In the
different States passes can still bc issued. if
the companies see fit, expressly limited to
travel within the boundaries of the State, but
the companies will have opportunity under the
act to cut off great many of these favors If
they please Another important change is that
special contracts with large shippers for the
movement of freight are all set aside after
April 5. 1t is anticipated by important COM
panics that season of great dulncss in railway
traffic will Immediately follow that date be-
cause neither the shippers nor the companies
can be assured that any rates adopted will he
maintained. This uncertainty. which is likely
to last for considerable time, Is one OF the
most obvious consequences Of the act